Getting Organized—the
Current In Thing
Anyone here ever heard of Marie
Kondo?
I thought so.
Yes, I’ve read her books.
Yes, I’ve been Marie Kondo-ing my
house. [Sort of]
No, I didn’t gather all my
clothes in one pile on the floor and check each item for sparks of joy.
No, I didn’t discard anything I
hadn’t worn in a year.
No, I didn’t embrace her as a
goddess.
At first.
When I first read The Life-Changing etc., I thought it was
silly. I was wrong. [Note to DH: See? I can admit when I’m wrong.]
Critics point out that many of
her ideas are not new. True. I know this because I have files containing years-old
articles on how to declutter and organize.
Enthusiasts think she’s the
greatest thing since sliced bread. [And
why is that a good metaphor anyway? I
prefer home-made bread and that doesn’t come pre-sliced. Oh well.]
If she can get people to declutter their lives, this is good.
My take on this little tempest:
Piling clothes
on the floor—not a great idea, especially for those who don’t bend well. But I notice that idea has melted and oozed
away. If you have to pile, do it on the
bed, okay?
Working on
everything in one category at once [rather than going room by room]—excellent
idea.
Working on
categories with low emotional attachment first and progressing to the cherished
[or uncherished] heirlooms—another excellent idea.
I think some of
her ideas are culture-specific. I don’t
embrace some of her folding methods because they don’t work with my wardrobe or
my drawers. But as with any how-to program,
I can take what works for me, right?
Whatever the size and shape of
your drawers, this is one fad that isn’t bad.
Clearing clutter, organizing what’s left, making your belongings easy to
live with—excellent!
What are you waiting
for?
Jenny
P.S. Getting rid of books gives me a panic attack. (I haven't shown you pictures of the other rooms--floor to ceiling books!)
